A new permit for non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong to travel to the mainland without a visa is proving to be very popular, Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday.

China Travel Service will issue the permits from July 10.

Lee described Beijing's move as a breakthrough that will "take good care" of foreign residents of the SAR.

"So we're going to improve the arrangements with the China Travel Service. We'll listen to views so as to optimise the arrangements," the CE said before the weekly Executive Council meeting.

District councillor and deputy school head Rizwan Ullah said ethnic minority residents often find the application process for travel visas to be complicated.

He said the new card will make it more convenient for students to go on study trips.

The head of InvestHK, Alpha Lau, said foreign residents are hailing the new arrangement.

"So far, in one day, I've already gotten a lot of very positive feedback from foreign chambers to say how wonderful the Hong Kong government is for doing this, for facilitating this together with the central government," she told reporters.